Two thoughts on Purple People

[browngirl]

This should be a polished essay, but I'm so tired my eyes keep unfocusing, so rather than never writing this down while waiting for the right moment, I've jotted this pair of linked thoughts.

One of the many things I noticed about this trio of splendid cosplayers is that the Princess Bubblegum has not tinted herself the same skin color as the character she's complying, but the others have: PB is pink, and while she's a pretty unnatural pink, still, many real people are various shades of pink. I found myself thinking about the recurring discussion of cosplay and skin color, and that it makes sense to only change one's skin color to one that's not seen among actual people. Painting oneself purple is an obvious costume but painting oneself brown skirts too close to the historical awfulnesses of brown face; presumably, in the Star Trek universe, one might not paint oneself purple anymore and probably won't paint oneself green, since purple and green people are real in that ficton.

There's probably a bunch of sensible essays out there about this -- I've only just begun exploring the world of cosplay. I was just thinking this and thought I'd make a note.

Speaking of sensible essays, I found this essay on "Invoking strangely colored people". Oh, if I had a nickel for every time I've seen someone say something that boils down to "It doesn't matter if you're White or Brown or Purple, if we all stop Talking ABout Race and Ignore It all racism will Go Away..." I could probably make bail if the next time I heard such a statement I went ahead and smacked the person making it. I don't know what I hate more, the idea that POC cause racism by refusing to forget who we are, or the blithe manner in whcih someone who doesn't have to deal with racism declares that because they don't none of us do or should.

[People do this about other forms of bigotry too, but that's another post.]

Ah, purple people. Where's the Purple People Eater?

Comments

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

i lost a friend (nex0s) over whether i was going to do patchwork skin to play unity from skin horse. ended up doing dr tigerlily jones in my natural skin shade.

long story short: history gets in the way of art sometimes, sometimes there's no pleasing people, and there's no good reason to try to avoid giving offense, but sometimes you may find you've done so anyway.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

I wish there was a safe pill that would let someone do the "Black Like Me" bit. (In fact, I've often wished I could do exactly that, just to find out how widespread it is. Of course, I also realize it wouldn't be really *real* because I'd know I could stop taking the pill.)

A lot of people just don't get it, and can't believe the level of hatred, of bigotry, and of just plain stupid prejudice that are out there. They think that the really heavy stuff must be in the past. They don't get how current it is, because they don't have to.

I can only imagine how hideously aggravating that must be.

[vass]

Thanks for the link to that Tumblr. It gave me a lot of opportunity for squee. I'll never get tired of how creative cosplayers are.

I particularly loved Fat Tiana kissing the frog. Just something about seeing the fat girl getting to be the pretty princess; plus Tiana's been my favourite Disney Princess since the movie came out, because she's the only one whose dream for the future (except for Mulan, who I don't remember actually having future ambitions - she just wants to get through all this and protect her family) is NOT a rescue fantasy, and her prince's arrival is kind of an unwelcome intrusion.

And the children are melting my heart. TINY DALEK CHILD. DE-AGED FOURTH DOCTOR.

AND THE MINECRAFT CHARACTER.

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

And those who say "I don't care whether people are purple," so typically look very pleased with themselves.

[kitty-hides.livejournal.com]

I dunno... I know personally I wouldn't have a problem with someone painting themselves white to cosplay, because there's no meaningful cultural appropriation going on there, "white" being the dominant media culture. (I also totally get why no-one would want to - I mean, why contribute to the erasure?)

BUT. I wonder if in a world where racism had been erased - like, theoretically, Star Trek - you could paint your skin a "real" colour without it being problematic?

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

Fabulous cosplay!

Good point about Princess Bubblegum. :)

That always bothered me when I was a kid. Why go out of your way to mention that you wont' discriminate against people who don't actually exist?

Love you.